s more than rueful tale.

"Did the man have a broken nose and a heavy jaw?" I asked.

"Ay, ay!" said Donald, lowering his voice. "Do ye happen to ken him?"

"No!--but he is still out there and he thinks it a fine joke that he
played on you."

"So would I," said Donald, "if I had drunk his beer."

"What did you do when he swallowed off your drink?" I asked.

"Do!--what do ye think I did? I remonstrated wi' a' the vehemence that
a Struan Robertson in anger is capable o'. But the vehemence o' the
Lord himsel' couldna bring the beer back."

"Why didn't you fight, man? Why didn't you knock the bully down?" I
asked, pitying his wobegone appearance.

"Mister,--whatever your name is,--I'm a man o' peace; and, forby I'm
auld enough to ken it's no' wise to fight on an empty stomach. I
havena had a bite since I saw ye last."

"Never mind, Donald,--cheer up. I am going to have some bread and
cheese, and a glass of ale, so you can have some with me, at my
expense."

His face lit up like a Roman candle.

"Man,--I'm wi' ye. You're a man o' substance, and I'm fonder o'
substantial bread and cheese and beer than I am o' the metapheesical
drinks I was indulgin' in for ten minutes before ye so providentially
came."

I could not help wondering at some of the remarks of this wise, yet
good-for-little, old customer; but I did not press him for more
enlightenment.

I thumped the hand-bell on the table, and was successful in obtaining
more prompt attention from the bar-tender than I had been able to do
across the counter.

When the food and drink were placed between us and paid for, Donald
stuffed all but one slice of his bread and cheese inside his waistcoat,
and he sighed contentedly as he contemplated the sparkling ale.

But, all at once, he startled me by springing to his feet, seizing his
tumbler in his hand and emptying the contents down his gullet at two
monstrous gulps.

"No, no!--ye thievin' deevil," he shouted, as he regained his breath,
"ye canna do that twice wi' Donald Robertson."

I looked toward the opening in the partition. Donald's recent
enemy,--the man whom I had been studying at the other end of the
bar-room,--was shouldering himself into our company. Behind him, in a
semi-circle, a dozen faces grinned in anticipation of some more fun at
Donald's expense.

The big bully glared down at me as I sat.

"That there is uncommon good beer, young un," he growled, "and that
there is most uncommon g